Sweet Smell of Success_
"Beware these “Gentlemen” of the press!"
New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.
Starring
Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison
Box Office
$2.5M
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Sweet Smell of Success earned $2.5M against a $3.4M budget.
Year context
Sweet Smell of Success was released 69 years ago in 1957.
Sweet Smell of Success is a Drama film with a runtime of 1h 37m.
CAST (20)
Burt Lancaster
J.J. Hunsecker
Tony Curtis
Sidney Falco
Susan Harrison
Susan Hunsecker
Martin Milner
Steve Dallas
Jeff Donnell
Sally
Sam Levene
Frank D' Angelo
Joe Frisco
Herbie Temple
Barbara Nichols
Rita
Emile Meyer
Lt. Harry Kello
Edith Atwater
Mary
Chico Hamilton
The Chico Hamilton Quintet
PH
Paul Horn
The Chico Hamilton Quintet
FK
Fred Katz
The Chico Hamilton Quintet
BC
Buddy Clark
The Chico Hamilton Quintet
Jay Adler
Manny Davis (uncredited)
MB
Mary Bayless
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Nicky Blair
Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)
NB
Nick Borgani
Waiter (uncredited)
RB
Ralph Brooks
Patron at 21 (uncredited)
BB
Brad Brown
Patron at 21 (uncredited)
BOX OFFICE
$3.4M
Budget
$2.5M
Revenue
-26%
ROI
UNDERPERFORMED
Verdict
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
97 min (1h 37m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
7.6/10 (563 votes)
Popularity
1
Budget
$3,400,000
Box Office
$2,500,000
Profit
$-900,000
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Sweet Smell of Success about?
New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.
How long is Sweet Smell of Success?
Sweet Smell of Success has a runtime of 97 minutes (1h 37m).
Who stars in Sweet Smell of Success?
The cast of Sweet Smell of Success includes Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Martin Milner, Jeff Donnell.
How much did Sweet Smell of Success make at the box office?
Sweet Smell of Success earned $2,500,000 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $3,400,000.
What is the rating of Sweet Smell of Success?
Sweet Smell of Success has a rating of 7.6 out of 10 based on 563 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama